Modular assembly for processing a flowback composition stream and methods of processing the same

Abstract

A method for processing a flowback composition stream from a well head includes controlling a first flow rate of the flow back composition stream to a second flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream from a first pressure to a second pressure. The method also includes separating the flowback composition stream into a first gas stream and a condensed stream. The method includes discharging the condensed stream to a degasser and degassing a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream. The method also includes mixing the carbon dioxide rich gas stream with the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream. The method includes controlling a third flow rate of the second gas stream by regulating a third pressure of the second gas stream to a fourth pressure that is different than the third pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for processing a flowback composition stream from a well head, said method comprising:
 receiving the flowback composition stream from the well head, the flowback composition stream having a first flow rate and a first pressure; 
 controlling the first flow rate to a second flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream to a second pressure that is different than the first pressure, wherein regulating the flowback composition stream to the second pressure is based, at least in part, on a flowback molar rate of the flowback composition stream; 
 discharging the regulated flowback composition stream to a separator; 
 separating the regulated flowback composition stream into a first gas stream and a condensed stream; 
 regulating the first gas stream to a third pressure and a third flow rate; 
 discharging the condensed stream to a degasser; 
 degassing a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream; 
 compressing the carbon dioxide rich gas to the third pressure of the first gas stream; 
 mixing the carbon dioxide rich gas with the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream having the third flow rate and the third pressure; 
 discharging the second gas stream to a flow modulator; and 
 controlling the third flow rate of the second gas stream by regulating the third pressure of the second gas stream to a fourth pressure that is different than the third pressure. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  further comprising discharging the second gas stream from the flow modulator to at least one gas processor. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising processing the second gas stream at the fourth pressure to produce at least one of a purified carbon dioxide stream, a natural gas stream, and a natural gas liquid. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising processing the second gas stream into a plurality of carbon dioxide states. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising reducing the first pressure to the second pressure. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising managing the first flow rate to the second flow rate. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising reducing the second pressure to the third pressure. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising discharging the carbon dioxide rich gas to a compressor. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprises collecting at least one of a proppant, oil, and water from the condensed stream. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the third flow rate of the second gas stream comprises regulating the third pressure of the second gas stream to the fourth pressure having a range from about 50 pounds per square inch (“psi”) to about 800 psi. 
     
     
       11. A modular assembly for processing a flowback composition stream having a first flow rate and a first pressure from a well head, said modular assembly comprising:
 a coupler assembly coupled to the well head and comprising a regulating valve configured to receive the flowback composition stream and control the first flow rate to a second flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream to a second pressure that is different than the first pressure, wherein the coupler assembly is configured to regulate the flowback composition stream to the second pressure based, at least in part, on a flowback molar rate of the flowback composition stream; and 
 a discharge assembly coupled in flow communication to said coupler assembly and comprising: 
 a separator coupled in flow communication to said regulating valve and configured to separate the regulated flowback composition stream into a first gas stream and a condensed stream having at least one of a gas, proppant, oil, and water; 
 a degasser coupled in flow communication to said separator and configured to degas a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream; and 
 a flow modulator coupled in flow communication to said separator and said degasser and configured to mix the carbon dioxide rich gas and the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream having a third flow rate and a third pressure and configured to control the third flow rate by regulating the third pressure to a fourth pressure that is different than the third pressure. 
 
     
     
       12. The modular assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a compressor coupled in flow communication to and between said degasser and said flow modulator. 
     
     
       13. The modular assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said flow modulator is configured to manage the third flow rate to a fourth flow rate. 
     
     
       14. The modular assembly of  claim 11 , wherein said flow modulator is configured to modulate the third pressure to the fourth pressure. 
     
     
       15. The modular assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first pressure has a range from about 50 psi to about 5,000 psi, the second pressure has a range from about 50 psi to about 2,000 psi, the third pressure has a range from about 50 psi to about 800 psi, and the fourth pressure has a range from about 50 psi to about 800 psi. 
     
     
       16. The modular assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first flow rate has a range from about 0.1 million Standard Cubic Feet Per Day (“scfd”) to about 300 million scfd, the second flow rate has a range from about about 0.1 million scfd to about 200 million scfd, the third flow rate has a range from about 0.1 million scfd to 200 million scfd, and the fourth flow rate has a range from about 10,000 actual cubic feet per day to about 10 million actual cubic feet per day. 
     
     
       17. The modular assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a gas processor assembly removably coupled in flow communication to said flow modulator and comprising a plurality of separation modules, each separation module of the plurality of separation modules configured to process the second gas stream into a carbon dioxide state of a plurality of carbon dioxide states to facilitate reuse of carbon dioxide gas of the second gas stream. 
     
     
       18. The modular assembly of  claim 11  further comprising a collector coupled in flow communication to said separator and configured to receive at least one of the proppants, oil, and water. 
     
     
       19. A method of assembling a modular assembly for processing a flowback composition stream from a well head, said method comprising:
 coupling a coupler assembly to the well head, the coupling assembly comprising a regulating valve configured to receive the flowback composition stream having a first flow rate and a first pressure and control the first flow rate to a second flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream to a second pressure that is different than the first pressure based, at least in part, on a flowback molar rate of the flowback composition stream; 
 coupling a separator in flow communication to the regulating valve and configured to separate the regulated flowback composition stream into a first gas stream having a third pressure and third flow rate and a having condensed stream; 
 coupling a degasser in flow communication to the separator and configured to degas a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream; and 
 coupling a flow modulator in flow communication to the separator and the degasser and configured to mix the carbon dioxide rich gas and the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream having a third flow rate and a third pressure and configured to control the third flow rate by regulating the third pressure to a fourth pressure that is different than the third pressure. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19  further comprising coupling a compressor in flow communication to the flow modulator. 
     
     
       21. A method for processing a flowback composition stream from a well head, said method comprising:
 receiving the flowback composition stream from the well head, the flowback composition stream having an initial flow rate and an initial pressure; 
 controlling the initial rate to an intermediate flow rate by regulating the flowback composition stream to an intermediate pressure that is less than the initial pressure based, at least in part, on a flowback molar rate of the flowback composition stream; 
 discharging the regulated flowback composition stream to a separator; 
 separating the regulated flowback composition stream into a first gas stream and a condensed stream; 
 discharging the condensed stream to a degasser; 
 degassing a carbon dioxide rich gas from the condensed stream; 
 mixing the carbon dioxide rich gas with the first gas stream to produce a second gas stream; 
 discharging the second gas stream to a flow modulator; and 
 controlling the second gas stream to a final flow rate by regulating the second gas stream to a final pressure that is less than the intermediate pressure.